More news in brief

Public asked for recommendations to curb elecetricity theft

The chairman of the newly established joint committee to address electricity theft, Julian Robinson, is asking Jamaicans to submit recommendations for solving the problem.

Robinson, who is the junior energy minister, says the committee recognises that there are good ideas out there, and wants to take an inclusive approach to tackling the problem.

He says based on the submissions, the committee will consider hosting a public forum for making recommendations in person.

Individuals may submit recommendations electronically to solvetheft@mstem.gov.jm. Or they can write to Julian Robinson at the energy ministry.

The committee was appointed Wednesday following a meeting between Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller and officials at the Jamaica Public Service Company Limited.

Sex potion salesman gets 3 months

A vendor selling illegal sexual performance-enhancement drugs was ordered to pay $22,000 or serve 3 months imprisonment in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday.

Charged under the regulations of the Pharmacy Act, Donovan Payne was convicted on nine of 10 counts, with one being withdrawn.

The Crown alleged that on April 18, Payne was spotted by police with a customer at his stall near Union Square in Cross Roads, Kingston.

According to the investigating officer, Payne began to act nervously, arousing the suspicions of the police. He was searched and pill bottles containing several illegal pharmaceuticals such as Spanish fly, Stud 100, Chiney brush, stone and black ants, were found.

Anafranil (for depression or mental illnesses), and amoxicillin, which are not illegal, had also been discovered.

Viagra and Cialis were found at his house.

In court, Payne claimed it was his medical doctor who had prescribed these medications for his type-one diabetes.

Diaspora group donates wheelchairs

Appalled by a wheelchair she
had to use while at the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI)
in February, Beverly Stuart-Broderick shared a photo with folks
overseas.

A group of Jamaicans in the diaspora, which has now
dubbed itself the 'One World Wheelers' has launched an initiative to
procure a few modern wheelchairs for health facilities across the
country. Already, the group has donated four of these chairs to the UHWI
and the Vineyard Town Golden Age Home in Kingston.

The
One World Wheelers is made up of Dr Aston Greaves, Dr Nicola Bravo,
Oonagh Greaves, Olga James, Val Meikle, Heather Reid, Yvonne Stephenson
and Joy Wright.

Inmate caught atop roof pleads not guilty

An
inmate, who allegedly attempted to escape from the Horizon Adult Remand
Centre with two other inmates, was hauled before the Corporate Area
Resident Magistrate's Court Wednesday, and charged with attempting to
escape lawful custody.

Jhavaughn Blythe, who is on a murder charge, pleaded not guilty to the attempting to escape charge.

The matter has been set for mention on May 19.

The
allegation is that on Sunday, April 27, Blythe attempted to escape from
the remand centre located along Spanish Town Road. He was spotted by a
correctional officer atop the prison roof as he tried to escape.

On
the same day, two other inmates escaped from the remand centre.
Eighteen-year-old Casheen Peart, otherwise known as Nine Star of Church
Lane district, St Thomas and 22-year-old Omar Creary of August Town,
Kingston 6, escaped through a vent.

They then breached the walls of the remand centre. Both Peart and Creary are still at large.